USS Shamrock and the Bombardment of Plymouth, North Carolina

The Capture of Plymouth, North Carolina, October 31, 1864 Line engraving published in Harper's Weekly, December 1864. via Naval History and Heritage Command

USS Shamrock was launched on St. Patrick's Day - March 17th - 1863 at the New York Navy Yard. The Sassacus-class Double Ended Gunboat was commissioned June 13th, 1864 under the command of Commander William H. Macomb. The next day she was sent to the sounds of North Carolina as part of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

Her details (from DANFS): Sidewheel Steamer: tonnage 974; length 205'; beam 35'; depth of hold 12'; draft 8'10"; speed 13 knots; complement 160; armament 2 100-pounder Parrott rifles, 4 9-inch Dahlgren smoothbores, 2 20-pounder Parrott rifles, 2 24-pounder howitzers, 1 heavy 12-pounder smoothbore

USS Shamrock was the "mother ship" for Lieutenant William B. Cushing's attack on the ironclad CSS Albemarle on October 27th, 1864.

On October 30th, 1864 USS Shamrock led a squadron of US Navy Gunboats in an attack on Plymouth, North Carolina. Commander Macomb, the senior officer of the squadron, determined on the 29th that the wreck of Albemarle and the obstructions placed in the Roanoke River would prevent his force from reaching Plymouth. However, he was informed that there was enough water in the Middle River for his ships to make it upstream of Plymouth and attack the city's defenses from that direction.

USS Shamrock's bombardment of Plymouth began even before she had left the Middle River, Commander Macomb writing that "we fired by compass courses, over the woods at Plymouth, at distances varying from 2,640 to 1,700 yards, and I have since learned that our fire was very effective." Reaching the Roanoke River upstream of Plymouth late in the afternoon of the 30th, USS Shamrock proceeded to bombard the batteries defending Plymouth.

“Early in the morning of the 31st ultimo, having determined on attacking the batteries, I sent a tug for the Commodore Hull and commenced preparations for the action. At about 8am the Commodore Hull arrived, and I stationed her at the head of the line as before, on account of her ability to fire directly ahead. At about 9am the USS Whitehead came up the Middle River with stores for the vessels in Albemarle Sound from the naval depot at New Berne. As her 100-Pounder Parrott had been taken out, I had her lashed alongside the Tacony, the Bazely being lashed to the Shamrock and the Belle to the Otaego (all on the port side) to keep the vessels in motion in case their engines should be damaged. We also had the steam blown off the starboard boilers of the double-enders, the fires banked very low beneath them, and the stop valve between the two boilers of each ship closed; so that there was no steam in the starboard boilers, but the water in them bein warm, it could be got up in a short time. At 9:30am, the vessels being in line, I signaled to the Commodore Hull to run ahead and reconnoiter and ascertain if the channel was clear. She reported all right, and I got underway, signaling the other vessels to follow in close order. The enemy opened fire as soon as we came within range and kept up a constant and very heavy fire, directed principally against the Commodore Hull and the Shamrock. As I neared the batteries I gave the order, "Go ahead fast," and we were soon directly opposite the enemy's guns, when he was driven from his rifle pits and fieldpieces by grape and canister from the ships, which we poured in very heavily. The batteries still held out, though their fire began to be wild, but as Shamrock passed them one of her shells exploded in their magazine, which blew up with great force, some of the fragments falling on our decks. This evidently caused a panic among the rebels, for from that time their fire slackened and at length ceased altogether. I then made the signal to cease firing, and then to land and take possession of the batteries, which was done without resistance. A party from this ship under Lieutenant Duer marched into the lower works (we having by this time passed the town and arrived opposite them), took about a dozen prisoners, and spiked the guns to prevent the enemy from firing on the vessels should they return to their batteries. (Official Records - Navies. Series 1. Volume 11. Pg. 14.)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

USS Mendota at Deep Bottom. A sister ship of USS Shamrock, Mendota carried a similar armament. (Being on the James River, Mendota is one of the better photographed vessels of the war.) Note the 24-Pounder Dahlgren Boat Howitzers mounted port and starboard just aft of the side wheel. I think there are 20-Pounder Parrotts mounted forward of the wheel in a similar position. Detail from Library of Congress Photo: https://www.loc.gov/item/2018666839/

Photo: The Roanoke River looking downstream from Plymouth, North Carolina